Twenty-six Republican attorneys general have taken legal action against a new rule imposed by the Biden administration. The rule mandates that firearms dealers conduct background checks on buyers at gun shows and other locations outside of physical stores. This move has sparked a series of lawsuits in an attempt to challenge the requirement.
Three lawsuits have been filed in federal courts in Arkansas, Florida, and Texas in an effort to prevent the enforcement of a recently announced rule. This rule is designed to address a loophole that has enabled unlicensed dealers to sell tens of thousands of guns annually without conducting background checks to determine if the potential buyer is legally eligible to possess a firearm.
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The lawsuit claims that the newly implemented rule infringes upon the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and asserts that President Joe Biden, a Democrat, lacks the authority to enforce it.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin emphasized that the ATF’s proposed expansion of firearms dealer license requirements has not been approved by Congress and cannot be imposed by President Biden alone. Griffin stated, “This lawsuit is just the latest example of my fellow attorneys general and I reminding the President that he must abide by the law.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Department of Justice, have chosen not to provide any comments regarding the lawsuit. Officials from the Biden administration have expressed their confidence in the rule’s ability to withstand lawsuits, considering the significant number of public comments it received, totaling over 380,000.
As the 2024 presidential campaign gains momentum, a lawsuit and the ensuing court battle could energize supporters on both sides. On one hand, Republican voters advocating for looser gun restrictions are likely to be propelled by this issue. On the other hand, Democrats pushing for stricter regulations on certain firearms and enhanced access to them will find renewed vigor in this legal contest.
Gun violence reduction has been a significant focus for Biden’s administration and reelection campaign, as the United States continues to grapple with a rising number of mass shootings and homicides. To address this issue, he established the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which is led by Vice President Kamala Harris. Additionally, Biden has called on Congress to implement a ban on what are commonly referred to as assault weapons. This term refers to a category of high-powered firearms or semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15, capable of firing multiple rounds rapidly without the need for reloading. It is worth noting that such a ban was previously avoided by Democrats until recently.
Gun control advocates have been advocating for the closure of the gun show loophole for a considerable amount of time and are expressing their appreciation for the recent implementation of a new rule concerning background checks.
Kris Brown, president of the gun control group Brady, emphasized the urgent need to update our national system by closing loopholes to prevent further loss of American lives due to gun violence. Brown affirmed that Brady is fully committed to defending this rule, recognizing its potential to lead us towards a future where gun violence is no longer a threat.
